Nervous System:

Nervous System is the chief controlling and coordinating system of the

body.
Nervous system is most important organization which controls and
integrates the different body functions and maintains the constancy of
internal environment despite of extreme change in external environment

Importance of nervous system:

1. It is the first appearing control system of the body
2. It controls the rapid and first activities of the body e.g. muscular
activity, secretions of glands etc.
3. It has regulatory effects upon endocrine system
4. It helps in adjustment of body with the external environment.

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 Nervous System

Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System

Brain Spinal Cord

Somatic Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

Cranial Nerves Spinal Nerves

Sympathetic Nervous System

Parasympathetic Nervous System

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 The Neuron
The neuron is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system.

Structure of Neuron:

The nerve cell or neuron consists of-

1. A nerve cell body or soma and
2. Two types of Processes
a. Axon and
b. Dendrite.

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 Differences between Axon & Dendrites:

Axon Dendrite

1. Carried impulse away from 1. Carried impulse towards the

cell body. cell body.

2. Single in each neuron 2. Several in number, from nill to

many.
3. Generally long. 3. Generally short.

4. Usually un-branched 4. Usually branched.

5. Arises from axon hillock. 5. Arises from any part of cell

body

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Myelin Sheath:
Myelin sheath is a fatty material, derived from the plasma
membrane of specialized glial cells, Schwann cells. It surrounds
the parts of the axon of a neuron.

Functions:
1. To act as an insulator
2. To protect axon from injury
3. To increase the rate of transmission of impulse along the
axon.

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Types of neuron:
There are three types of neurons in nervous system:
1. Sensory neurons: Carry messages from sensory receptors to
the central nervous system.
2. Motor neurons: Transmit messages from the central nervous
system to the muscles (or to glands).
3. Interneurons: Connect neuron to neuron.

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Nerve: A solid cord like structure made of neuron is called nerve.

Types of nerves:
depending on the mode of functions they are of three-

Sensory or Afferent Nerves:

Periphery Impulse Spinal cord Brain-

example- touch heat, taste and sight etc.

Motor or Efferent Nerves:

Brain Signal Spinal cord Periphery

Mixed Nerves:
In spinal cord, sensory and motor nerves are arranged in different tract,
but outside spinal cord when sensory and motor nerves are enclosed
within the same tube of connective tissues, they are known as mixed
nerves.
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Neurotransmitter:
Neurotransmitters are the chemical substances which transmit impulse
from one neuron to another neuron & neuron to another effector cell.

Types of Neurotransmitter: Neurotransmitter can be classified as-

 Excitatory neurotransmitter: example-
•Acetylcholine
•Nor-epinephrin or nor-adrenaline
•Epinephrin or adrenaline
•Serotonin
 Inhibitory neurotransmitter: example-
•GABA (Gama Amino Butyric Acid)
•Glycin
•Endorphin
 Mixed neurotransmitters: example
•Dopamin
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 Synapses:
The junction between a nerve cell (neuron) and another cell is called a
synapse

The synapse is formed by:

1. An axon terminal (presynaptic terminal)
2. A part of another nerve cell (e.g. Dendrite) or effector cells
(postsynaptic terminal)
3. A thin intercellular space, called synaptic cleft.

Functions :
Synapse allows transmitting impulses from one neuron to another
neuron or effector cells by releasing neurotransmitters. They are
responsible for the unidirectional transmission of nerve impulse.

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 Synaptic Transmission:

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 The Central Nervous System (CNS)

The central nervous system is divided into two parts

1. Brain &
2. Spinal Cord

Brain:
Brain is the major part of the central nervous system contained
within the cranium.

Parts of Brain:
The parts of brain are:
1. Forebrain : Cerebrum
2. Brain Stem : Mid brain,
Pons &
Medulla
3. Hind brain : Cerebellum

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 Protection of the brain:
The brain is a very important but delicate organ. It is protected by the
following coverings-
1. Bony covering of the cranium
2. Three membranous covering (Meninges)
a. Outer dura mater
b. The middle arachnoid mater
c. The inner pia mater
3. The cerebrospinal fluid fills the space between the arachnoid
and the pia (Sub arachnoid space) and act as a water cushion.
Meninges:
The brain and spinal cord are completely surrounded by three membranes,
called Meninges, lying between the skull and the brain and between the
vertebrae and spinal cord. The membrane layers from outside to the inside
are-
1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Pia mater

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Ventricles of the brain:
There are some free spaces in the cerebrum called ventricles. The
ventricles are-
1. The lateral ventricle
2. The third ventricle
3. The fourth ventricle

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 The Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF):
It is a secretion produced by the choroids plexuses. It is clear alkaline
fluid resembling plasma.

The function of the cerebrospinal fluid:

It acts as a buffer, protecting the brain and spinal cord. It conveys
nourishment to the tissues of the central nervous system.

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The Spinal Cord:

Anatomy:
The spinal cord is that part of
CNS which is contained within
the vertebral canal and is the
prolongation of brain.

Lengths:
It is about 45 cm (18 inch)
long and about 1.25 cm
(0.5 inch) wide.

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Functions Of The Spinal Cord:

1. Media for signals from the periphery of the body to the brain or in
opposite direction.

2. Walking movement.

3. Reflexes that withdraw portions of the body from painful objects.

4. Reflexes that stiffen the legs to support the body against gravity.

5. Reflexes that control local blood vessels, GIT movements & the
reflexes that control urinary excretion.

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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):
Peripheral nervous system is divided into two parts
1. Somatic Nervous system &
2. Autonomic Nervous System

Somatic Nervous System:

It is divided into two parts
1. Cranial nerves &
2. Spinal nerves

The Cranial Nerves:

There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. Some are mixed nerves, i.e.
both motor and sensory, some motor only, and some sensory nerves,
e.g. the nerves of the special senses.

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 Spinal nerves:
The thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves

1. 8 pairs of cervical nerves (C1-C8)

2. 12 pairs of thoracic nerves (T1-T12)

3. 5 pairs of lumber nerves (L1-L5)

4. 5 pairs of sacral nerves (S1-S5)

5. 1 pair of coccygeal nerve

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 The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):

The autonomic nervous system is dependent on the central nervous

system .

The autonomic nervous system deals mainly with involuntary or

autonomic nervous control of viscera and so it is sometimes called
The involuntary nervous system.

It is functionally divided into two parts:

1. The Sympathetic System

2. The Parasympathetic System

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 Diseases of the nervous system:
Meningitis: This is the infection of the Meninges including CSF.
Encephalitis: It is the generalized inflammation of the brain
substance itself. It can occur as a complication of certain infection
such as mumps, measles and whooping cough.
Schizophrenia: It is a psychotic illness characterized affecting
thought, perception, emotion and will power.
Neuritis: It is a composite term used to indicate disorder of a
peripheral nerve from any cause, whether inflammation, some form of
poisoning, as in alcoholic neuritis, or pressure.
Neuropathy: A functional disturbance or pathological change in the
peripheral nervous system.

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